Sly stood his ground as the rebel assassins moved to surround him, long curved blades ready in each hand they carefully encircled him. He inspected the one he thought to be the leader but got nothing useful in return.

???

Suddenly a bolt whistled towards him, he evaded the deadly shot by using his aura to mildly change it’s trajectory away from his head. Before he could process the direction of the attack two of the assassins rushed at him, both of them chanted a quick spell.

“Imbue Blade!” chanted the first and her two blades were suddenly engulfed in razor wind as she charged at Sly’s left.

“Shadow step!” chanted the second and he suddenly disappeared in a burst of shadows.

Sly acted quickly as a second bolt was shot towards him, two daggers appeared out of his sleeves, one per hand as he spun around to face the first assassin. Their blades clashed and suddenly the assassin’s wind imbued blades pressured down on Sly’s as if being back by a giant’s strength.

Sly flinched from the agony caused by the clash when his aura burst out to surround him, the bolt flew past his shoulder affected by the aura. Sly fought through the pain and blasted his aura forwards at the assassin, causing her to be thrown back.

He quickly turned parrying the second assassin’s attack as he suddenly appeared out of Sly’s shadow, bursting his aura outwards again he pushed this one away as well when suddenly a third assassin shadow stepped behind Sly slashing both of his daggers into Sly’s wings and cutting them off at the stem.

Sly screamed out in agony and summoned an explosion of Aura, the explosion knocked back the third assassin. Following the outburst of aura from Sly a bolt flew out of the forest and dug into Sly’s right shoulder disabling his entire arm. Sly dropped his right dagger as he lost all feeling in his arm, gasping for breath from the agony that followed.

Another bolt was shot, embedding itself into Sly’s left leg. He was forced to kneel from the ensuing pain. His expression warped in agony, Sly still held on to his last dagger, clutching it even though it caused him more pain. He looked around as the assassins relaxed, anger flaring through his eyes as he watched the Fae slowly approach him.

(“This is…how I die?”) he asked himself.

The assassin stopped a couple feet in front of Sly, wind still engulfing her blades as she stared down at him from behind her cowl and balaclava. Her eyes were wide, bright blue with a pinkish iris. She stared down at him in amusement, then raised one dagger up to his throat “You will die, slowly and painfully.”

Sly couldn’t clear his mind to summon his Aura, the pain was just too much for him to focus. No anger could get through the agony, no emotion to fuel him further other than the burning pain that filled his body. She kicked him back knocking him down into the water then pressed her foot over his chest, keeping him under the surface as she raised both blades up before suddenly stabbing them down into his shoulders.

Sly screamed and then choked as water rushed to fill his lungs. The pain was simply excruciating yet he could not pass out, he forced himself to stay conscious and fight through it but it took everything he had to do so. He knew even if he did pass out the pain would not stop.

The assassin stepped back letting Sly up to the surface, raising her hands up she caught two daggers that were suddenly thrown at her. She chanted “Imbue Blade” and a rush of razor wind engulfed them too. The assassin stepped back then suddenly lunged down stabbing the daggers into Sly’s knees, shattering the bone and sending Sly into another tantrum of agony.

She raised her right hand up again and caught the third dagger thrown at her, she stared down at him as he wormed around in the water from the pain, his eyes turning greener the longer this went on. “Now to carve out a present to send to her ‘royal’ highness.” Stepping around she kneeled down next to Sly and turned him over so he faced the sky, holding him still as he shook.

The Fae rebel pressed her dagger’s point to Sly’s chest then pressed it down, carefully and ignoring Sly’s constant hoarse screams and squirming she carved open his chest right over his heart. She sheathed the bloody dagger and pressed both of her hands to his chest, spreading the wound open.

When suddenly she quickly backed off, standing up and away in surprise as out of Sly’s chest spew out a dark green mist. The mist quickly engulfed her and in a few seconds the entire lake before oozing it’s way into the forest. The visibility was low as the Fae glanced around, she heard her companions turning tail to run. Annoyed at their cowardice, her annoyance was quickly replaced with fear as screams of panic and pain suddenly surrounded her.

The screaming was everywhere, she could tell each voice apart as one by one every single one of her companions began to scream out before slowly their voice turned hoarse and ending in a dying gasp. Following the screams was the tearing of flesh, the gut wrenching shattering of bones and squelching of blood before suddenly...Silence fell.

Everything was quiet except for a light sound, like dripping water into a puddle it went on. Drip, drip, drip. The sound went on and on slowly getting closer sending her imagination into a frenzy as she stared off into the mist. Eyes wide the rebel unsheathed her dagger as the mist moved ahead of her, she slashed wildly hitting nothing before quickly leaping back.

She bumped into something on her way back…A deep chill run through her spine as long fingers lurked over her left shoulder, she couldn’t move, she felt paralyzed by fear.

“Drop the blade.” A slow whisper commanded her and she obliged, dropping the dagger almost immediately. “Turn around.” The hoarse voice then ordered and she did, slowly turning to face the creature that seemed to overpower her very mind.

Her eyes dared not widen further, her face would not pale whiter as she stared up at the Devil. Sly had grown two feet taller, his eyes had turned completely green, whites, iris and all as dark green energy crackled out of them. His skin had turned completely white, almost sickly with a greenish tinge. His dark purple hair had lost it’s colour too, some violet barely visible through the white it now was.

His body was also completely healed.

The assassin’s entire body trembled with fear as his aura permeated through her, she couldn’t even think straight less so move or speak. Sly’s right hand reached out, slowly raising up to her neck before squeezing around it but not hard enough to choke her. He raised her up by the neck, high enough so they were face to face.

Sly’s expression was…confused. Not angry, nor sad or afraid. No Sly was mostly confused as he stared at the notifications that had popped up a few moments earlier, when he was in too much pain to even notice them.

The [Necrotic Grasp] curse is overflowing…

The de-buff [Extreme Mental Strain] is now affecting you.

Warning your [Miasma] is entering a [Frenzy]!

You have gained the sub-race {Undead} through the obscene amount of [Dread] you have absorbed…

You have unlocked the racial class [{Dread Knight}]

Level Up! (x32)

Warning!

[Necrotic Grasp] curse has been empowered by [Dreadful body] curse!

2 weeks estimated before complete bodily failure!

He had not only lived through the ordeal but had gained a sub-race and a class? He was baffled at the titles of each as well, simply being [Undead] made his head spin but to also gain a class regarding that race?

(“What has…happened to me?”) he thought as he continued to enforce his Aura over the petrified rebel assassin, fully aware of the Dread that now lurked within his Aura. Sly felt revitalized, no pain what so ever was present at the moment. Even as he clenched his free hand into a fist he only felt one thing, overwhelming strength.

He turned his attention back to the notifications, one stood out from the rest to him. (“Fourteen days…”) he sighed lightly, somehow he wasn’t surprised but…

(“Power comes with a price my boy.”) the voice that filled his mind after surprised him quite a bit.

Sly recognised the voice (“Ares…How are you speaking to me outside of the class trials? What’s going on? Sick bastard what did you do to me!?”) it is safe to assume that Sly does not like his ancestral guide very much.

The voice chuckled, a gruff cackle before answering (“I have done exactly nothing, fool. You have gained a class haven’t you? It is my role to explain it to you, so I might as well explain to your feeble mind what has happened to your soul.”)

Sly grimaced and growled (“Go on…”)

Ares chuckled some more before continuing (“The curse you have been…well cursed with, is one that empowers your pain reception over tenfold as it slowly kills you. The sheer amount of pain you struggled through over the past few days, the sudden increase in pain that has been inflicted to you today…well your Miasma took exception to that.”) this time he laughed full heartedly until Sly growled some more regaining his attention.

(“Hah…Your Miasma, a kind of mana that absorbs other kinds of mana, an energy…a power that hungers for more power. It absorbed the overflowing Dread that filled your body, it absorbed so damn much that your soul’s elemental attunement was harshly effected. Your soul gained an attunement for Dread, this categorizes you as Undead.”) Ares explained in an amused tone.

(“That explains the race…and the class?”) Sly asked as he took this in stride.

(“Ahaha! The class! I believe it would be simpler to show you the class description! Oh how I love playing around with these options!”) Ares exclaimed excitedly when suddenly a window opened in Sly’s face.

Dread Knight; A creature born from the most vile of curses. Imbued with deathly energies their bodies quickly rot away as the power overflows. Known as an un-living catastrophe, stories following Dread Knights are haunting nightmares told only by the bravest bards.

‘HAHAHA! Come! Come at me fools! Break my bones! Burn my flesh! All is for naught as I stomp over your puny armies! As I blow away your castle walls and tear your cities asunder! Come! Fight me! Fear me! QUENCH MY THIRST FOR BLOOD AND WAR!’ Dreakalor, Dread Knight Vampire Lord.

You have acquired the following class skills;

Actives: [{Deamon Make}]

Passives: [Dread Mist], [Dreadful Voice]

Sly grimaced, cringing at the quote (“Sounds like me when I’m on a killstreak…hell…”) he read through the skills quickly (“What’s with this active? The hell is a Deamon?”)

(“A Deamon, my boy, is an Undead Demon.”) responded Ares (“Each Dread Knight gains a different active skill, they’re all unique abilities. Yours is somewhat strange, I’ve never known a Dread Knight to take minions…”)

(“Minions huh…”) thought Sly as he closed the windows and stared at the rebel, with a grin on his face he dropped her and she limply fell into the water. “Rise” he told her, his voice empowered by Dread.

The rebel wordlessly obliged, albeit being still paralyzed by fear she rose to her feet.

Sly raised his right palm to her face and chanted “Deamon Make.” suddenly the mist surrounding them began to spin around them, slowly tendrils formed then reached out and entered the rebel through her ears, eyes, mouth and nose.

The rebel’s cowl and mask seemingly dried up alongside her coat revealing a blonde haired woman with blueish-pink eyes, her wings were not visible at the moment but her complexion made it obvious she was Fae.

As the Dread constantly flowed into the woman her appearance changed. Her bright blonde hair quickly lost it’s colour turning ghastly white, her blue-pink eyes were enveloped by a dark green energy turning them completely green like Sly’s before suddenly her skin began to crack.

The Fae’s skin expanded and cracked as a white carapace grew, shell-like the carapace grew to cover her body entirely like most Demons. Out of her back grew two pairs of leathery white wings that spanned almost as long as Sly’s which had regrown and two short dark green horns grew out of her forehead from stubs that formed out of the carapace there.

Finally, a thin leathery tail grew out almost five feet long finishing her transformation.

You have created a [Deamon] minion.

This creatures name was once (Lea Frei Rain).

Do you wish to rename this minion?

(“Frei Rain…Like Sistine’s mother…”) Sly’s grin would have widened if it could as he read the message “No” he answered the window and it disappeared. He looked back down studying his first minion, he could barely hide his excitement as much as he couldn’t hide his grin.

(“So boy, what shall you do now?”) asked Ares.

Sly chuckled coldly “What I couldn’t do before.” he half-answered him before turning back to Lea “Tell me minion.” the mist around them suddenly began to dissipate revealing their surroundings “Where can I find the rest of your rebel group?”

The water below them was now almost entirely red as chunks of flesh and bone floated about. The trees around their side of the lake were covered in blood and more gore, leaves dripping blood down onto the water and soil, branches drenched and some holding up tattered pieces of armour or flesh. These were the remains of the other assassins.

Sly listened carefully as the minion happily listed several hidden bases and rebel-friendly taverns (“This is what I can do…”) he told himself before willing open the guild menu (“This is what I have to do.”)

Guild Menu

Guild Name: RedHawkDown

Abbreviation: RHD

Leader:

[Level 167] Birse [[Master] Shadow Paladin]

Co-Leaders:

[Level 166] DeathChilled [[Master] Pyromancer]

[Level 169] JackyKill [[Master] Lord of Wraiths]

Members:

[Level 142] Seren_Cross [[Master] Lord of Wisps]

[Level ???] Kyllix [Lord of Slimes]

[Level 154] DemSkillShots [[Master] Ranger]

[Level 153] Steph773 [[Master] Alchemist]

[Level 168] Cherrysboi [[Master] Guardian]

[Level 165] Woodstauk [[Master] Lord of Unicorns]

[Level 168] 300thSpartan [[Master] Valkyrie]

He then opened his inventory and took out his VCD, briefly he glanced back at the guild menu before carefully he took out the mana crystal on the side of the device rendering it inactive. He inventoried both the crystal and the disabled VCD before staring at the guild window.

Sly focused on it as he spoke “Leave Guild.”

Are you sure you wish to leave the guild [RedHawkDown] which you are co-founder of?

Sly stared at the notification briefly, clenching his fists as he closed his eyes. This was a dreadful choice for him but a choice he decided to make none the less “Leave…Guild”.

You have left the guild [RedHawkDown] of your own volition.

Ares’s voice hummed inside Sly’s head (“This is not like you at all, what are you planning boy?”)

Sly turned around giving the Deamon his back “Giving this newly gained power a use, to stop Scythe and aid my friends the only way I know how.”

Ares snorted (“Even as they work hard to save you? Even as they rush their plans and put themselves at risk just to buy you more time?”)

Sly sighed “Even I know…Even more so now…Scythe is too strong, too smart. It will be too late, he’ll arrive before we can ever end the hostilities between the factions of Chaoz. No I won’t stand to see them fail, I won’t let them fail.”

(“You might die.”) said Ares plainly.

Sly smirked “Couldn’t we all?” he looked up to see the moon still rising “Minion, show me to your comrades…”

Northern Hasharr

Ogre Fortress City of the Haunting Clouds

The Chariot flew over the calm ocean heading towards a massive fortification covering several kilometres across the shores of the continent of Hasharr. A massive wall of stone with mana already visible flowing through a sort of circuit carved into the stone, the mana glimmered as it changed colour from blue, green and yellow.

Peeking over the walls and turning as they approached were several hundred dozen massive cannons seemingly made of the same mana infused stone the walls were. Barely visible behind the massive fortification were the lights of an even larger city, buildings seemingly oversized for the normal humanoid.

Flying behind the Chariot was a whole platoon of forty eight Mageks riding armoured Griffins, this was the largest number Esfelt was able to manufacture and train during the past week.

Standing at the front of the Chariot and gazing into the monitors was Birse, behind him was some of the RHD guild sitting at the table, including Jacky, Cherry, Skill and Sparta while Woody and Seren manned the Mageks carrying the Chariot.

With them sat multiple others, leaders of different guilds together making the leadership of the Adventurer’s Guild of Barik. Dherik, Regina, Luke, Nakano and Shark as officers of the guild, with them sat Zaahr the co-founder and Karnage the leader.

Karnage had returned to Chaoz a few days ago, she was baffled to hear of Sly’s recovery and slightly annoyed that she had returned for no reason but her duties as guild leader kept her from returning to Kyle.

Luke, leader of the crafting guild had joined up with Death and Steph as one of the lead researchers in the creation of the Mageks. As such him and his guild had merged with the Adventurer’s Guild.

Nakano, previously co-founder of Eternium was voted in as the new leader after Zeeke’s demise to the Elven Empire, or as Jacky’s intel had explained. She had her doubts but she also knew he had gotten what was coming for him and that was enough for her. Her guild had also merged with the Adventurer’s Guild.

Shark, as founder of the Pride guild and after the scattering of the churches and many arguments between their guild -mainly started by Taliarissa, the co-founder- they had also merged with the Adventurer’s Guild.

Lilior who was bothered being surrounded by so many people was in her Fairy form and hiding at the top of her Dungeon Crystal.

“We’re landing.” Pointed out Luke anxiously, his hands hadn’t stopped tapping the table since lift off.

Dherik placed his large right hand over the craftsman’s shoulder “We are, now chill the fuck out before I knock you the fuck out.” he warned him with an annoyed glare.

“R-right…” Luke nodded and removed his hands from the table.

Birse sighed and turned to face them all, each of them albeit most tried to hide it were anxious. He straightened himself “This is not a war mission, calm down you all. This is just peace talks, there’s no…little need to worry.” he assured them with a shrug before turning back to the monitors.

“Says you…your ‘Highness’…”said Karnage as she glanced around the table “What happens if they don’t want to make peace?”

“Why wouldn’t they?” asked Birse with an amused tone “They have no reason to, actually they have every reason to accept. Ogres dislike conflict, it is why they have so many issues with their neighbours the Orcs.”

Birse watched as the Chariot flew over the walls and swerved to the left, the platoon of Griffins followed. They headed towards the side of the city, flying over the inner walls and turning to land at the gate. The landing was smooth as the Chariot’s magic propelled it upwards and back, slowing it’s speed as the Griffins on the front simply came to a running stop.

The platoon of Griffins all landed behind the Chariot, forming a thick chevron with it at the front.

Birse studied the welcome party in front of the stone barred gate as the others stood to leave the Chariot, several dozen unrecognizable armoured beasts with hulking shoulders and torsos stood on all fours with just as large plate-armoured warriors standing guard above them. They all stood in a straight line facing their own landing party.

Birse stepped away from the monitors and walked towards the already open exit at the back, as he passed by the crystal “Lilior, watch those walls.” He told the Fae and stepped out.

The ground was dry, the grass was almost yellow as fields of it spread out to the left of them. It would have been a beautiful sight during day-time, a field of gold. But during night time it was haunting, like a dry wasteland.

He glanced at his comrades, each waiting for him to step forward first. He did, leading the leaders forward and away from their guards. They walked around the Chariot and towards the Orc’s welcome party, stopping mid-way between either.

Birse watched as the giant warriors swerved their beastial mounts aside, making an opening at the centre of their line as multiple individuals stepped forward from behind them.

The Ogres were a mixed race of each giant race in Chaoz, within the diplomatic party walking towards them Birse recognized several races he knew from myth and others he learned about from what his wives had told him to expect.

Five large beings stopped to stand in front of them.

Two Cyclopes, standing about fifteen feet tall these where the shortest of the Ogre races and had a singular large eye in the middle of their faces. Both were male, one obviously more important than the other wore fancy clothing made of white silk, his greying hair was cut short but his long beard was left to hang. His blue eye looked weary but attentive.

The second wore official looking robes made of a blue cloth and held a long wooden staff marking him as a mage, his short dirty blonde hair seemed gelled back and his single green eye was opened wide as he stood at attention.

An Oni, standing about thirty feet tall these red giants were almost Demon-like in appearance with blood red skin, long tusk-like fangs and one to two bony horns growing out of the top of their heads. This one had a single horn instead, as all females of her race did and unlike the Cyclopes she was in full black plate-armour with a massive sword over her back. Her crimson red hair was bunched up in a bun while her golden eyes stared at the Chariot curiously.

A Hill Giant, the second largest of the Ogre races standing upward of forty feet tall but looking mostly human in appearance except for the claws growing out of their fingers and toes instead of nails. This one was a young male wearing royal clothing of blue, white and gold. His black hair was tied up in a warrior’s tail with a fancy golden ring, over his brown eyes he had an accessory similar to a pair of glasses made of shimmering silver and gilded with gold.

Lastly and a member of the largest race within the Ogres, A Stone Giant who stood about fifty feet tall as a fully grown male. Instead of skin he had stone like scales covering his entire body, his eyes glowed a fiery red while his hair and beard seemed to be made of moss and vines due to the greenish colour. His chest was completely bare while he at least wore a thick pair of shorts made of white fur. He had to squint and bend over lower to fully see them.

The Cyclopes with the staff stepped forward and greeted them “Welcome hopeful friends, to our border city of the Haunting Clouds.” He gestured at himself “I am Gorish Joel, guild master of the Sorcery and Craft guild here on Hasharr. With me are Hefton Eljor the third Grand Lord of us Cyclopes, Kanae Toen Grand Lord of the Oni, Norm Drok Toslar Grand Lord of the Hill Giants and…” he had to raise his arm fairly high to gesture at the Stone Giant then cleared his throat before speaking again.

“Nukliateksentrosalametrinoka Grand Lord of the Stone Giants.” he somehow said in a single go.

“Call me Nuk.” Added the Stone Giant, his voice loud like booming thunder as he gave up on leaning over and crouched down instead to get a good look.

Birse nodded and stepped forward, infusing his voice with mana he spoke “I am Lord Birse, King of the Esfeltian Dominion, Guild Master of RHD and council member of the newly founded Chaoz Alliance. I shall leave it to the other council members to introduce themselves.”

Gorish glanced around and waited a few moments “Who…might they be?”

“Wait for it.” said Birse with a smirk.

Suddenly the sound of rushing water filled their ears as over the massive wall that lined the shore, the sea began to rise higher and higher. The sudden hill of water moved towards the wall and leaked right over it, slowly it made it’s way around the crowd of Ogre soldiers as it just as slowly shrunk down.

Walking over the pillar of water and landing to a stop nearby Birse as the water dissipated into the soil stood a young male Nymph “I am Rej Deepdrifter, Sultan of the Nymph race, Lord of the Mer Bond and council member of the Chaoz Alliance.”

As Rej finished his introduction a sound echoed throughout the city, like clapping thunder before suddenly and with a harsh landing appeared an Avian from the sky above. He rose from his kneeling position and stared up at the sky briefly as his contingent of soldiers suddenly landed with just as much speed to stand behind him.

“This is King Raiku Goldfeather.” Exclaimed one of the soldiers beside Raiku as their group stood to the left of Birse’s “King of the Avian race, King of the kingdom of Oroboros and council member of the Chaoz Alliance.”

Raiku glanced at Birse and Rej, politely nodding to each as both returned his greeting.

Gorish unfastened his collar button anxiously, the letter they had received had not mentioned such important faces would show up. “Our p-people welcome you both Sultan Deepdrifter and King Goldfeather…” he politely bowed towards both royals before turning back to Birse who seemed offended, he bowed to him as well somewhat sating his annoyance “Then shall the proceedings beg-”

He was cut off as suddenly the air to his right crackled with energy before reality seemed to split apart creating a dark red rift. Out of it walked out several more individuals followed by their contingent of guards making Gorish’s face pale to the extreme.

Birse controlled his grin as he gestured at the new arrivals “I present you the four Dwarven Lords of Ruk, Lord Bealot, Lord Tanja, Lord Sejior and Lord Howter.” Each finely dressed Dwarf nodded at the council members politely before moving to stand away from the rift with their warriors to allow the rest through.

Birse continued to introduce the late arrivals “Next are the eight Devil Lords of the Dezol legion, Lord Lucifer Sin of Pride, Lord Belial Sin of Vanity, Lord Satan Sin of Wrath, Lord Mammon Sin of Greed, Lord Asmodeus Sin of Lust, Lord Leviathan Sin of Envy, Lord Beelzebub Sin of Gluttony, Lord Belphegor Sin of Sloth…”

Each Devil Sin stepped through the rift followed by one to three other Devils and a contingent of Demon guards, each group moving to the left and line up nearby Rej.

Gorish was speechless as the final arrival stepped through, encircled by Fae guards she gracefully hovered out of the rift as she made her own introduction “Daughter of the banished Fae God King Oberon, Daughter of the late Fae Goddess Queen Titania. Demi-Goddess Queen of the Fae race, Demi-Goddess Queen of Ruk. Officially standing as council member for the Chaoz Alliance for the Fae, Dwarf, Demon and Devil races.”

She hovered down to stand nearby Rej, Raiku and Birse who now stood at the front of every one, her Fae guards hovered to kneel behind them.

“I am Lilliana.”